Maui Activities
Most any activity that you enjoy doing can be done on Maui, with the exception of river rafting since there are no rivers here. Even if you have only a few days on Maui, try and spend some time out on the water. If you are lucky enough to be here doing whale season, by all means go whale watching. These tours are usually fairly short and quite reasonably priced. A sunset cruise is a delight at any time of year and will usually include whale watching during whale season. A must do is a snorkel tour either to Molokini or Lanai. Molokini is a small, crescent shape crater that is reached by boat from Maalaea Harbor. Snorkeling at Molokini is considered the best on Maui and many snorkel tours to this spot also include a visit to 'turtle town', an area frequented by green sea turtles. A true Maui experience is snorkeling beside one of these creatures as they come up for air, then gracefully dive back down. Snorkel tours to Molokini tend to be half day affairs. Trilogy offers an excellent tour that in addition to Molokini also includes turtle town, a hot lunch cooked on the boat and sailing. For those staying in the Kanaapali area, there are all day snorkel tours to Lanai, a neighboring island known for good snorkeling and spinner dolphins.
A snorkel tour is highly recommended to experience the multitude of colorful reef fish found in the waters surrounding Maui. However, if you are adverse to putting your face in the water there are some alternatives. Atlantis submarines take passengers down 130 feet to see the fish around Lahaina, all in air-conditioned comfort. The Maui Ocean Center, located next to Maalaea Harbour, is an aquarium focusing on Hawaiian and Pacific sea life.
Golfing, biking, hiking, windsurfing, scuba, surfing, kayaking, horseback riding, the list of activities to be found on Maui goes on and on. Maui boasts several surfing schools that will teach both young and old to surf. The waves south of Lahaina are gentle and perfect for beginning surfers. It's best to take a lesson your first time out. Biking down Haleakala is a very popular activity; it is best to do this through one of the outfitters that drive you up to the crater, provide you with appropriate attire and escort you down in a group (safety in numbers). New activities are continually being developed with zipline as one of the newer offerings. Hiking is especially interesting in the Haleakala crater and in the Hana area. Hiking in these areas will take some advance planning and preparation. Anyone can enjoy the mile plus walk along the shoreline in Wailea. Just bring along a water bottle or else stop for refreshment at one of the fabulous hotels along the way.
An indulgent activity that shouldn't be overlooked is relaxing at the hotel pool or on one of the many wonderful beaches. All beaches on Maui are public, even if they are fronting hotels. Most popular beaches will have a public parking area with a marked beach access path. Some beaches are better for snorkeling, others for swimming or surfing. For the sheer beauty of the place, plus good snorkeling in the morning, check out Kapalua beach. For swimming, Kanaapali beach is very calm, and for playing in the waves, the beaches in the Wailea area are very nice.
Helicoptor tours are a way of seeing a lot of the island in a very short period of time, or seeing some areas that are otherwise hard to reach or otherwise inaccessible. These tours are very pricey; if you decide to take one, carefully check out the safety record of the tour operator.
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